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Apple Wins EU Ban of Smaller Samsung Tablet, Demands $2.5 Billion In Damages
walterbyrd writes with news that Apple has won a preliminary injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 across the European Union, thanks to a decision in a German regional court today. At the same time, the court re-affirmed the denial of an injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, a version of Samsung's 10.1" tablet that was modified to avoid infringing upon the same patents Apple had asserted earlier. The two companies are still fighting on the other side of the Atlantic as well. In a filing today in a San Diego, California court, Apple is claiming $2.5 billion in damages. "Samsung's infringing sales have enabled Samsung to overtake Apple as the largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world. Samsung has reaped billions of dollars in profits and caused Apple to lose hundreds of millions of dollars through its violation of Apple's intellectual property." Samsung, of course, thinks it should owe much less — $0.0049 per unit per patent — if anything.
Apple is a private company using a broken patent system the way every other private company would if they held those patents. The system is the problem. Apple is just doing its fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder wealth. Blame the system. Reform the system.
Don't hate the player...
Yes, shame on them for actually producing a product that is a threat to the Apple monopoly. Hundreds of tablets on the market that until recently have been largely garbage and have sold as such. Then one comes along that can actually compete. Well fuck that. Kill it with lawyers.
I'd be willing to bet that defense lawyer couldn't tell the difference between a Mac and a PC either.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, re Voltaire